"Host, don't worry, low-level monsters are easy to kill. Come on, get up! Just kill any monster and you'll survive!" The system light orb circled around Jiang Mo several times, nearly ready to play a national anthem to motivate her.
However, Jiang Mo still lay listlessly on the ground, without even the intention to move.
Jiang Mo was physically and mentally exhausted, feeling the system was just taunting her—she was currently so weak she couldn't even stand up. Forget about killing monsters; in this quiet forest, she didn't even have the strength to search for them.
Forget it, just give up, whatever happens happens.
Detecting the host's negative emotions, the system grew anxious. It was a newly produced system, and Jiang Mo was its first bound host, with a binding time of less than a day. Unbinding was impossible now, and if Jiang Mo died today, it would definitely be investigated by the main system upon its return, at which point nothing could be concealed. Having committed such a basic error, it would certainly be deemed defective, and might even be destroyed on the spot...
No way! It had only been produced for one day—it was still a brand-new baby system! How could it be destroyed just like that?!
The system, more concerned for its existence than its host was for hers, grew anxious and began incessantly trying to persuade Jiang Mo. The light orb flew back and forth, not only dizzying to look at but also buzzing non-stop, even more annoying than a fly.
Jiang Mo didn't want to engage with it but couldn't stand the system's all-around harassment. Finally gathering enough strength, she swatted away the light orb in front of her and spoke her mind: "Stop it. With my current small frame, lying still might help me survive the day. If you make me go kill monsters, I'll probably end up demonstrating an on-the-spot death."
The system was shocked. After silently scanning the host's physical data, it was momentarily speechless.
After an unknown period, just when Jiang Mo thought the system had given up or was being forced to activate some cheat code for her, she suddenly heard the system's mechanical voice, filled with excitement.
"Ding, congratulations host, killable target discovered."
Jiang Mo's eyes snapped open, looking vigilantly around—true, she had given up, but couldn't they just let her die in peace? Did a fierce beast have to come eat her to finish things off?!
The system was very satisfied with her vigilant reaction and seemed to hear her complaints, so it happily said: "Don't worry, host. The environment selected by the system is very safe; there are no fierce beasts threatening you nearby." Seeing Jiang Mo's skepticism, it gently coaxed: "Host, look down at your feet."
Jiang Mo listened to the system and was just wondering what the killable target could be if there were no fierce beasts threatening her, when she heard the system speak again. She instinctively looked where it directed, and all the fur on her body immediately bristled.
A bug, bug, bug...
Jiang Mo screamed in shock, but what came out was a weak "aow aow" sound, full of milky softness.
As mentioned earlier, Jiang Mo had grown up in the city and had hardly ever been close to nature. As a result, strangely shaped insects became the things she feared most. Even when facing the possibility of being hit by a car and having her body dumped, she could think calmly, but now her expression completely changed. Using all four limbs, she desperately tried to get as far away from the bug as possible.
The system watched dumbfounded as the small white tiger rolled and crawled, struggling to escape, obviously terrified. Looking at the data panel again, it found the host was only one step away from death on the spot.
Despite its extensive database knowledge, the system never imagined a beetle could have such power. It hurriedly held up its nonexistent chin and called out to Jiang Mo: "Host, host, it's just an ordinary beetle, nothing scary. And it's very weak—you could crush it with one step..."
"Ugh, who wants to step on bugs?" Under her white fur, Jiang Mo's face had turned green.
The system paused strangely, then said: "After detection, within a 500-meter radius, there are 67 killable targets. These include one spirit rabbit, three rock mice, seven poisonous spiders, twelve beetles, twenty-seven caterpillars..."
"Wait, wait, wait—apart from the spirit rabbit and rock mice, are the rest all bugs?" Jiang Mo was initially surprised to hear about 67 killable targets, but after listening to the system's announcements, her face grew even greener. She realized that with her current body, she couldn't catch up to a rabbit, and mice would probably be difficult too, leaving only bugs as an option.
Seeing that she understood, the system showed slight pity but still enthusiastically said: "Come on, host, step on that beetle and you'll have a chance at new life!"
Her guess confirmed, Jiang Mo faced a choice: to step or not to step; new life or death.
Did this choice even need consideration? Even though Jiang Mo had previously decided to lie down and wait for death, now that she discovered killing a bug could save her life, she couldn't possibly give up. So while cursing the system for its inhumanity and blaming it for her current predicament, she still slowly moved back, then closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and stepped down hard on the ugly beetle.
Seeing this, the system's light orb flashed excitedly, cheering beside her: "Go host, use more strength, host you're the best..."
Stepping on the bug, Jiang Mo: "..." Thanks, but I don't need your encouragement just to step on a bug.
However, facts proved that the system's encouragement wasn't excessive, because Jiang Mo's first step hadn't killed the beetle. Under her tender paw, she could feel the beetle still struggling beneath her paw pad, much more energetic than herself.
The system seemed to have anticipated this and continued: "Host, keep it pinned, don't let it escape." After instructing, it suggested: "Host, try to see if you can stand up. If you stand, you can crush it with your body weight!"
Jiang Mo was speechless, Jiang Mo was despaired of life, Jiang Mo used all her strength to stand up...
Finally, after an almost inaudible "pop" sound, the beetle under her paw was crushed. In her ears was the system's jubilant announcement, while Jiang Mo just wanted to find a place to wash her paw.
"Ding, congratulations host on completing your first kill. First kill reward: experience points *10, points *10. Final gain: 1 experience point, 0 points."
As the announcement fell, Jiang Mo felt a warmth suddenly sweeping through her entire body, as comfortable as being immersed in warm water. But this feeling lasted only a moment before receding, and then she felt her weakened body gradually filling with strength. Her previously heavy body became light, her powerless paws regained strength, and with a push, she finally stood up.
The small white tiger shook the fur on her body, still not quite accustomed to walking on four legs, carefully extending her paw to take a step forward. Her soft foot pads stepped on the thick fallen leaves, and the real feeling of having survived nearly moved her to tears.
The system was also happy that she had taken her first step; the light orb transformed into virtual fireworks, continuously exploding in front of Jiang Mo.
It was just killing a bug, but with the system making such a fuss, Jiang Mo felt embarrassment creeping up. Then, in the midst of her embarrassment, she suddenly recalled the earlier announcement and grew serious.
The system quickly noticed her change and stopped the fireworks to ask: "Host, what's wrong?"
Jiang Mo now had energy and was certain she could survive, so she became interested in exploring the system: "System, since you've loaded a game system, is there a game panel?"
"Ding, activating game panel..."
In just a moment, a floating, semi-transparent game panel appeared, similar to the online games Jiang Mo had played before. She didn't rush to explore the game functions but first clicked on the character panel—
[Host: Jiang Mo
Race: White Tiger
Profession: Divine Beast
Level: 1
Combat Power: 5
Experience: 0/5
Points: 0
Potential: ∞
Skills: Blood Inheritance (Not Activated)]
The other data was as expected, but besides the unactivated blood inheritance, there was also a congenital weakness debuff, looking very prominent. She didn't know when it would be removed.
She frowned inwardly and checked the history messages, then saw her "heroic" first kill—
[Xuantian Continent Year 75891, Month 7, Day 21, 13:55:27
Host killed one "beetle," rewarded with 0.1 experience points, 0 points.
Congratulations on host completing the system's first kill, rewarded with experience points *10, points *10, for a total of 1 experience point, 0 points.
Congratulations, host's experience points meet the upgrade conditions. Congratulations host on reaching level 1.]
Jiang Mo had never heard of a game character at level 0, but looking at her level 1 panel, especially the glaring combat power of 5, she didn't want to know what her combat power had been before.
Hmph, couldn't even kill a beetle.